About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 2020)
Thursday, May 14,20201 GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com tft v & Speaker Pelosi defends proposal for $3T virus relief package, inside, 3A Honestly Local Nurse dies from COVID-19 Prioritizing health and safety Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times Bolding Mill campground on Lake Lanier is closed until at least May 31 due to COVID-19. The boat ramp at the park remains open to the public. Corps campgrounds on Lake Lanier now closed until May 31 BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com I ticeto the Public This ar© a " ,s close d in respor»s e to COVID-1 until further n °t|ce Fo,add«onaUn~mca. - Private school proposed in South Hall Lake Lanier campgrounds now will be closed until at least May 31. The Army Corps of Engineers had hoped to open the campgrounds on May 18, but “the ongoing presence of COVID- 19 in North Georgia is still a public health and safety concern to federal operations in the region,” according to a Corps news release. “We understand that as the summer recreation season approaches, this lat est update on the ongoing COVID-19 emergency comes as a disappointment to many,” the release says. “However, the Corps’ highest priority... is the health and safety of the visiting public, and the safety of our staff and volunteers.” The reopening of recreation areas “will be dependent on local conditions as measured by data and trend lines col lected by local, state and national public health resources,” the Corps said. “We will continue to monitor each recre ation area and reopen when conditions warrant.” Chief Ranger Chris Arthur said Wednesday, May 13, that the decision making process “varies from state to state, too.” “Our plan is to get all the park atten dants trained over the next few weeks... and get the campgrounds (ready to) open on June 1,” he said. The Corps said it will automatically process refunds, with no cancellation fees, for campground reservations through May 31. Officials ask campers to wait 10 busi ness days after the start date of the reservation for the refund. Those who still don’t have a refund can fill out a The Greater Hall Chamber of Com merce’s annual gala usually takes place in a crowded ballroom at the Chattahoochee Country Club in Gainesville. Not this year’s 112th Annual Meet ing & Gala, which has been moved to Sept. 10. “contact us” form at www.recreation. gov/contact-us. Visitor centers and beaches also are closed, but some boat ramps, nature trails and viewing areas are open. The event had been scheduled for Thursday, May 14, but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the chamber said. The event is one of the chamber’s largest of the year, featuring a dinner and annual award presentations, includ ing the 2019-2020 Small Business of the Inside North Georgia trail systems see large influx of visitors over past two weeks, 4A Year, Family Business of the Year, the Distinguished Citizen of the Year, the Community Service Award and the W.G. Mealor Chairman’s Award. To make an award nomination, con tact Amanda Lewis at 770-532-6206, ext. 111, or email her at alewis@ghcc.com. Jeff Gill BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Northeast Georgia Health System licensed practical nurse who tested positive for COVID- 19 died May 12 after several weeks in critical care. Deb Stevers, known to her colleagues as “Mama Deb,” died Tuesday morning, accord ing to a statement provided by NGHS president and CEO Carol Burrell. Stevers joined the health system 15 years ago and worked in the progressive coronary care unit at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. “She took many wing and nurtured them through the early years of their careers. We, and her patients, will miss her friendly spirit and outgoing approach to life,” Burrell said in a statement. “We con tinue to do all we can to protect our heroes on the front lines of this battle, and they continue bringing their best, every day, to care for our com munity. There’s no better way to honor Deb’s life and legacy. NGHS spokesman Sean Couch said 113 employees have tested positive for the virus since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. NGHS employs more than 9,000 people. The health system reported Tuesday it was treating 112 confirmed positive patients at its four hospitals and New Horizons Limestone, a long-term care facility. The system was treat ing 135 patients a week ago. Couch said intensive care units in Gaines ville and Braselton were at about 70% capac ity. Northeast Georgia Health System reported Tuesday that 44% of the health system’s 108 ventilators were in use. The system had projected to reach staffing capacity May 22, but Couch said officials are revising that this week and now feel comfort able removing that date from the health sys tem’s website, based on the amount of help coming from the state. A temporary unit provided by the state is ten tatively set to be operational May 20. BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com A private school featuring academic build ings, a football stadium, performing arts cen ter and an amphitheater is being proposed in Chestnut Mountain in South Hall. Gainesville-based engineering firm Roch ester & Associates is seeking to rezone 34-plus acres off Chestnut Mountain Circle, near Winder Highway/Ga. 53, from agricultural- residential to planned office development for the project. The school, also next to Chestnut Mountain Church and across the road from Hall County Fire Station No. 12, could serve up to 1,000 stu dents in kindergarten through 12th grade. The application doesn’t say who or what organization is behind the project, and Brian ■ Please see SCHOOL, 6A Annual chamber gala now set for Sept. 10 due to pandemic ‘We, and her patients, will miss her friendly spirit and outgoing approach to life.’ Carol Burrell NGHS president, CEO This e-edition sponsored by:
